I watched through the first Dune film and reviewed it yesterday. I was an okay film. It didn't quit wow me nor did it particularly hold tightly to my attention span. I mentioned that it felt like a film which was released purely to be a setup for the sequels to come, to establish a franchise by giving a relatively simple story that doesn't quite do much but does tell a few hints of what's to come. I mentioned in that review that the only reason I decided to watch the film was because of a podcast I listened to from the cinematographer Greig Fraser, who seemed genuinely engaging to listen to regarding the production of the films, though with additional interest in the sequel film. Since I hadn't seen the first one, I figured I'd jump into it from the start and see what it had to offer. Though I do have to say: the second part is so much better. A genuine surprise in quality increase regarding the way the story unfolds and how.
Dune: Part Two, as its called, really pushes itself forward with the pacing. And I think the biggest problem I had with the first was that pacing, where it felt painfully slow and generally a bit uninteresting beyond trying to show scale. This sequel appears to expand more on the world building by showing us more people, showing us the various types of environments people live in. And to no surprise it starts off by throwing us immediately into the action, with some very cinematic scenes that show how much of an epic Villeneuve’s idea can be for the Dune franchise. I think the biggest strengths really do come from the ways in which the mechanical world here is displayed. The connection with the soulless desert landscape in which the Spice resides. The dry wasteland which is considered a goldmine despite being so harsh for living. With such an environment, showing the high tech science-fiction side of things needs the attention to visually fit within that universe's context.
The cinematography of Dune 2 has massively improved. Some of that comes from Fraser's more ambitious techniques, as well as the different lenses utilised: a series of Soviet era rehoused glass made for modern cinema cameras. The characteristics feeling more connected to the world as a result. Where sharpness in the image isn't as important, but instead we get these strong flares from the sunlight. Showing the intensity of the dry sun. The soft light transitions from shadow to light also working its magic with the interiors. Sometimes some chromatic aberration in the images which comes from those lenses. But I felt that it made the mechanical seem more mechanical and otherworldly. These lenses don't always have such strong characteristics, and I think that also really works when it does come to showing more regular moments and locations within the scenes. I really loved how interiors were handled in this sense. Feeling warm but cooler from being sheltered out of the sun. The more orange stone with an Ancient Egypt aesthetic.
Knowing more context about the film's production also helped with admiring moments of detail more. Where Paul is riding the massive worms, the waves of sand coming and going, beating him up and testing his ability to control the worm and maintain his own footing. That connection of sand moving in a similar fashion to water as if he's sailing. Such moments are handled so well that they're easy to miss, but genuinely make such a massive difference in connecting the audience to the characters and their actions, especially within this space where there is a very specific look and texture to everything. Showing that sometimes really reminds us of where they are, rather than simple reminders of them having to just tread carefully to avoid attracting the worms.
The narrative has improved quite a bit too, the prophecy side of things is far more addressed in this film. Still featuring a bit of that coming of age narrative style with Paul where he's rejecting certain aspects of his destiny, only to be pushed closer towards it. This is seen with his mother who accepts her fate, knowing that it's directing Paul. Never questioning whether it's the right direction, always seeing what must be done. Paul, being younger and more naive, constantly attempts to battle his fate by trying to alter it. Constantly trying to find a way around something, to avoid the images of the future that come and go, haunting him with scenarios. It shows a strong battle for Paul and his own mind as he knows something is up. But refuses to accept that he is the one to lead the people forward and towards a planet that is no longer a dry wasteland, and instead thrives with oceans and greenery once more.
I think my main criticism of the previous remains, however: this is again a film part of many. It has that feeling that it's intentionally not saying everything it wants as to spread itself out and provide more films, down to those types of open endings that never really offer any conclusion. Instead feeling like one long episode within a series. While there is more action within this one, better pacing between the world building and character development, sometimes it did feel like it couldn't done more with the long runtime it holds. I wouldn't say these films are particularly special. They're beautifully crafted but still very much part of that Hollywood franchise formula. Still a bit stuck in being grand epics.
